Probabilistic area of interest identification for well placement planning under uncertainty

A computer-implemented method for well placement planning, the method comprising:

• receiving a set of reservoir model realizations covering a subsurface volume, each reservoir model realization including a plurality of cells representing respective subvolumes of the subsurface volume, each cell in each reservoir model realizations including one or more properties representative of the respective subvolume of the subsurface volume;
• generating, for each of the set of reservoir model realizations, a corresponding opportunity map including a plurality of entries corresponding to respective cells in the corresponding reservoir model realization, including, for each entry in the corresponding opportunity map, calculating and storing an opportunity value representative of recovery potential based upon at least a portion of the one or more properties in the respective cell in the corresponding reservoir model realization;
• generating a combined probability map from the opportunity maps corresponding to the set of reservoir models, the combined probability map including a plurality of entries corresponding to respective entries in each of the opportunity maps, including, for each entry in the combined probability map, calculating and storing a probability value representative of a probability of the opportunity values stored in the respective entries in the opportunity maps meeting an opportunity criterion;
• accessing the combined probability map to identify one or more areas of interest in the subsurface volume based upon the probability values stored in the entries of the combined probability map;
• and
• generating a well placement plan that places at least one well in the identified one or more areas of interest.